Taximeter fraud-preventive device.



T. W. POST.

TAXIMBTER FRAUD PREVENTIVE DBVIGB.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.14, 1909.

Patented Sept 20, 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

TRUIVIAN W. POST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO POST LOCK REGISTER 00., A CORPORATION 0E NEVI YORK.

TAXIMETER FRAUD-PREVENTIVE DEVICE.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

1%9. Serial No. 512,822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TRUMAN V. Posr, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Taximeter Fraud-Preventive Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to taximeters or automatic fare recording devices of the class commonly employed in hired or rented motor vehicles for the double purpose of indicating to the passenger the amount of the charge against him, and totaling up the receipts for the information of the operating company. In actual use the latter function is interfered with by the practice of the drivers of carrying a good many passengers with the taximeter out of recording position or relation; the passenger of course being almost always willing to pay the driver a reasonable charge for his ride whether the taximeter has been registering or not. A habit of disregarding the taximeter record seems to be established in a certain class of passengers who pay what-ever charge is asked so long as it is reasonable. Other passengers, more careful or pains taking, are satisfied if informed that the taximeter is out of order or not working. In this way, the taximeter fails of its purpose of recording total charges collected, and which it is intended that the operating company should receive.

It is the purpose of my invention to entirely prevent and overcome this particular fraudulent use of the taximeter.

\Vith this object in View myinvention consists in the features of construction and combination as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a taximeter fraud preventive device embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail side view.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by the same reference sign, 1 designates the body of a motor vehicle of the usual taxicab type, and 2 de notes a taximeter fixed on the usual vertical or upright partition 3 which separates the body or tonneau from the drivers seat.

4: denotes an impeding or obstructing frame work designed to so enter and obstruct the body or tonneau of the car as to make the latter untenable for passengers. This impeding or obstructing frame work can be arranged in different ways to accomplish the foregoing purposes. I prefer to employ a skeleton rectangular trellis hinged to the partition 3 at points 5 along the lower rear part thereof and adapted to be swung upwardly against said partition so as to lie closely against the latter entirely out of obstructing relation in the vehicle. The parts or members 6 of the trellis are so formed and arranged as to lie flatly and compactly against portions of the partition 3, and their exposed sides under these circumstances are preferably formed into moldings or other ornamental outlines to avoid the frame being any way unsightly when the car is occupied.

7 designates a cord by which the frame or trellis at may be pulled upward against the partition 3 from the drivers seat.

When the frame 4 drops away from the partition 8, it falls into a position where it substantially fills the entire body of the tonneau in such a way that it is practically impossible for the latter to be occupied by any passengers. Resting on the seat and barring the opening of the doors, it is clear that the device is effective even against those passengers who might wish to join with the driver in plans to defeat the operating company. The latter purposes are still more perfectly effected if the trellis or frame is fitted with sharp spikes or serrated edges.

The frame thus constructed and mounted, is connected to the usual operating lever of the taximeter in any simple or approved manner, for example, by a link connection 8 joined to a crank arm 9 of the taximeter flag or operating lever. With this positive connection the raising of the frame absolutely insures the placing of the taximeter in its fare recording position, so that the operating company is certain to get the receipts for all passengers using the car.

lVhat I claim, is

l. A taximeter fraud preventive device comprising a taximeter having a controlling part, means movable with respect to a part of a vehicle whereby said vehicle may be rendered tenable or untenable, means connected thereto for putting said taximeter controlling part in fare registering position while said first mentioned means is being positioned to render the car tenable, and

means operable from the vehicle operators seat for controlling the aforesaid movable means.

2. A taximeter fraud preventive device comprising a taXimeter having a controlling part and positioned adjacent the seat of the operator of a vehicle, means movable with respect to a part of said vehicle, whereby the said vehicle cannot be occupied by a passenger if the taximeter controlling part is out of fare registering position, and means operable from the vehicle operators seat for controlling the aforesaid movable means.

3. A taximeter fraud preventive device comprising a t-aximeter having a controlling part and positioned adjacent the seat of the operator of a vehicle, means movable with respect to a part of said vehicle whereby the said vehicle cannot be entered by a passengel without putting the taximeter controlling part in fare registering relation, said means comprising a member extending through the vehicle casing.

4. A taximeter fraud preventive device comprising a member attached to the casing of a vehicle, a taXimeter having a controlling part and positioned upon the outer side of said casing, and means connecting said member and said taximeter controlling part whereby said vehicle is rendered untenable when said part is out of fare registering position.

5. A taXimeter fraud preventive device comprising a member downwardly movable within a vehicle from a position in which said member does not interfere with the tenability of the vehicle, to a position where the vehicle is untenable by passengers, a taXimeter having a controlling part, and means connected to said member for putting said taXimeter controlling part in fare registering position when said member is moved to its first mentioned position in the vehicle, said member moving to a location where it is substantially invisible or incon spicuous when upwardly disposed.

6. A taXimeter fraud preventive device comprising a member attached to the casing of the vehicle and movable into and out of engagement with the seat thereof, a taximeter having a controlling part, and means for putting said taximeter controlling part in fare registering position when said member is moved out of engagement with said seat.

7. A taximeter fraud preventive device comprising a movable spiked frame carried by a vehicle casing, a taximeter having a controlling part, and means whereby the movement of said frame may correspondingly move said taXimeter controlling part.

8. A taximeter fraud preventive device comprising an obstructing frame pivoted to the wall of a vehicle, a taXime-ter positioned outside of said wall and having an operating arm extending therefrom, and a link connection between said frame and said arm, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

TRUMAN 7. POST. lVitnesses:

lVALDo H. CHAPIN, WILLIAM C. LARY. 

